September - Nobilium

September 1952 25¢
35 Specialists
5 Dental Supply Houses
53 Dental Laboratories
Symbol of the Sooner State . . . the Mistletoe
Dentistry in Oklahoma
(sQe back page)
. TIC
is sent to you with the
compliments of your Ticonium Laboratory
•
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..
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,
tie
September 1952
THERE'S
A REASON
FOR
EVERYTHING !*
by M. L. B.
The patient came in late; in fact, the office girl
had already gone and Doctor Hines was locking
the outer door. He was very tired.
He looked at the slovenry dressed man and knew
that the man's mouth would be equally unclean.
"It wouldn't be wise to take out th; tooth - your
mouth being in the condition that it is," he told the
patient after examining him. The man whimpered,
"But, please, doc - please help me. This tooth is on
fire ."
So Doctor Hines, against his better judgment,
did the job. He was in such a hurry that he never
bothered to take the man's name and address. He
told him to be sure to come back in the morning
for a checkup and postoperative treatment.
But the next day the patient did not appear. Nor
the next day, either. Doctor Hines spent a worried
few days, but then relaxed after a week had passed
by. He assumed there had been no aftermath. However, two weeks after the extraction, papers were
served on Doctor Hines for malpractice. The patient
was sick, very sick. Instead of returning to Doctor
Hines, he had experimented with his own home
remedies.
It cost Doctor H ines a lot of embarrassment and
explaining. Eventually though, his good reputation
saved him from a lot worse. Now he is never too
tired or too hurried to get a patient's name and
address.
Get a Lawyer
Doctor Mann had been in the army two years.
One day he received an airmail letter from a lawyer
in his home town. The letter charged the dentist
with having struck the attorney's client and having
failed to· report the accident. This was supposed to
have happened on the corner just outside Doctor
Mann's dental office.
Of course, he. knew the charge was a frame-up.
He was sure that he could prove it. After all, Uncle
Sam was on his side. Then suddenly a terrible
thought came to him - he had been on 'leave during
the period of the alleged accident and he had gone
to his office to check his equipment! But he was
certain that he had not been involved in any acci• All names used are fictitious.
Page Sixteen
dent. Yet, how could this plaintiff have picked such
a·n opportune time? How could he have known that
he, Doctor Mann, was there - on that very corner?
In foolish haste to clear himself, he wrote to the
man explaining that he had been in the city had
passed that corner, but, of course, was not guil~y.
His insurance company could have told him and it did later - that he played right into the hands
of the criminal, a too-common type that selects
names and takes a "shot in the dark," hoping that
one professional man will become panicky alld pay
off rather than get involved in damaging publicity.
After that experience Doctor Mann never again
answered such letters. He turned them over to his
lawyers and to his insurance representative.
A "Bleeder"
For a full month Doctor Thomas slept in his
office because of the calls he received from a patient
who had been a "bleeder."
When this husky truck driver had first walked
in one day with a toothache, Doctor Thomas had
not thought to inquire about any history of bleeding. The simple extraction turned out t; be almost
the end of his practice. Finally, in despair, he called
the patient's relatives, for he was convinced that, in
spite of all he was doing, he could not save the patient's life. He paid for blood transfusions out of
his own pocket. He made splints that would wash
out under the pressure of the blood. Then the
. miracle happened - one special splint which he had
designed and sweat over in his laboratory held! The
bleeding stopped.
If a patient requires extractions now, Doctor
Thomas walks across the hall and, through an arrangement with young Hap, a medical technician,
gets an immediate bleeding and clotting time. The
courtesy dental treatment he furnishes Hap he finds
is inexpensive payment for his peace of mind.
The Patient's Daughter
Mrs. Young wanted an appointment for her
daughter. "Her teeth are very sensitive, doctor, do
be careful with her," she said. "I think that she was
frightened by a dentist when she was a baby."
"Well, don't send her to me, Mrs. Young," the
dentist replied. "I am not a specialist."
The mother went away, quite indignant.
The next day the daughter came in, her eyes
flashing fire. "So you won't fix my teeth - you think
that I'm a problem or something!" she cried.
She was quite the most beautiful, most go~geous,
twenty-year-old blonde the young dentist had ever
seen. When he got his breath back, he immediately
hired her as his assistant. Six months later he married
her. Today he has a homely, oldish woman as his
assistant. Why? There is a reason for everything!
tic
A MAGAZINE FOR DENTISTS, DENTAL ASSISTANTS, AND DENTAL HYGIENISTl
Published monthly by TICONIUM
413 North Pearl St., Albany 1, N. Y.
Copyrig!lt, 1952, Ticonium
Annual SUbscription $2.50
EDITOR,
Joseph Strack
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Arthur H. Levine, D.D.S.
Joseph Murray, D.D.S.
September 1952, Vol. XI, No.9
CONTENTS
KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE
Here is sound advice on how
to avoid malpractice suits. Every dentist in America ought to
read this article _____________________________ _
A SHORT -CUT METHOD - PERMANENT REIIASING AT THE CHAIR
TIc'S New Products Editor describes and recommends, on the
basis of his own experience, a
product that saves time and
labor and helps to produce
better dentistry ______________________________ 3
DENTAL WIVES
All dentists and their wives will
want to read "Hobby \Vidows" 5
ANGLES AND IMPRESSIONS
News, views, humor, and many
profitable tips by TIC'S free wheeling commentator ________________ 6
BEFORE YOU IN SERT THAT
NEEDLE, DOCTOR
Another how-to-do-it article to
i~lproye
doctor-patient rela-tiOnShlps __________________________________________ 7
Rx FOR LIVING
The story of dentistry's nationally famous baseball authority
- Doctor Harry ;1,1. Cohen________ 8
SHOULD YOU AMEND YOUR TAX
DECLARATION, DOCTOR?
" . . . there is no excuse for
continuing either to overpay or
underpay on an original tax
estimate. . . ." ______________________________ 11
WE, THE DENTAL ASSISTANTS
"We want the dentist we work
for to make it easy for us to
help him have the kind of practice he strives for" ______________________ 14
THERE'S A REASON FOR EVERYTHING
A fascinating collection of believe-it-or-not anecdotes ____________ 16
Opinions expressed by contributors to
TIC do not necessarily reflect tbe
'views of tbe publisbers.
Printed in U.S.A. by
New England Printing and
Litbograpbing Company, Inc.
Cover·artist, Edward Loftus
KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE
by William S. Warren, D. D. S.
The ability to keep out of trouble is one of the most valuable
assets a dentist can have. This is true in all phases of dentistry, but
especially so in surgery.
.
No matter how much actual operating skill a dentist may
possess, he defeats the very purpose for which he is striving unless
he also uses great caution in both his preoperative procedure and
his postoperative procedure.
One of the major worries disturbing the dentist today is the
high cost of malpractice insurance. The main reason for this is the
steadily mounting number of malpractice suits which crowd the
courts. Some of these are legitimate; far more Of them are not.
T he principal cause of these suits is that somewhere along the
way a patient had trouble as the result of a dental transaction
which he felt - either rightly or wrongly - justified a suit. The
ease with which a patient can take his grievance to the courts
these days - and often win - is alarming.
Since judges and juries are becoming more lenient with the
plaintiffs, and since a number of attorneys seem eager to handle
this kind of case, the dentist must be on his guard constantly.
Every precaution should be taken, every modern medication used,
to help make certain that the patient suffers as little aftereffect as
possible.
First - the Dental Diagnosis
Each person who presents himself in a dental office for surgery
is a problem, and one of the most important ways to solve that
problem is by proper diagnosis. This involves, first of all, a careful
check of X- rays to be sure that they have been mounted correctly. More than one reputable dentist has found himself in
serious trouble by discovering too late that he extracted the
,vrong tooth because he had consulted X-ravs that were improperly mounted.
.
The General Hea lth Condition
The dentist is faced, not only with making a correct diagnosis
of the patient's dental health, but with obtaining a correct diagnosis of the patient's general health too. It is wise to enlist the help
Page One
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September 1952
September 1952
....----------Dentistry in the Press-------- ---,
ing down instruments or scowling - make it clear
that he's angry at his assistant. A patient squirms
with sympathy for the recipient of a scoldingwhether it's justified or not - and his opinion of
the dentist will surely drop several notches. That
margin for error - as in any job - should be considered.
Relationship between Doctor and Patient
Joseph Michael Doolin, four, has a set of artificial dentures.
Only fjve of the teeth he displays in a smile (right) are his
own. Joe (left) examines his upper plate.
of the patient's ,physician in deciding whether the
patient is a good office risk or whether hospitalization is indicated.
This is especially true in cases of pregnant women
and of persons with cardiovascular disease, a tendency toward hemorrhagic diathesis, rheumatic
fever, and rheumatic heart disease.
When the patient has a special health problem,
it is tremendously important to consult the patient's
o\vn physician. This may require a good deal of
time, and occasionally may become an annoyance
when the physician does not show a willingness to
cooperate, or tries to tell the dental surgeon in great
detail how to extract the teeth, while the patient
waits in the chair, the dental assistant paces the hall,
and there is standing room only in the reception
room. However, most physicians are cooperative
and appreciate that the dentist is conscientious
enough to take the time to learn the medical background of the patient. Not only may the dentist get
valuable information to assist him in the operation,
but he may - and usually does - receive assurance
from the physician that the latter will stand back of
him in case of trouble.
In operating upon patients with a health problem,
conservatism is far safer than any radical procedure.
It pays great dividends in peace of mind for the
dentist, in winning the confidence of the patient,
his family, and his friends, and thus in establishing
a satisfactory relationship which may last during
the entire professional career of the dentist.
The Use of Anethesia
Whenever any type of anethesia is used, the patient's life is in the. hands of the man administering
it. It is infinitely better to remove one or two teeth,
and then wait and see what reaction takes place,
than to endanger the patient's health by the extraction of a large number of teeth at one time.
If local anesthesia is used, the patient usually reacts beneficially to preoperative sedation with one
of the barbiturates, which also performs the function of an antidote for procaine toxicity.
Leslie Gideons, only three, opens his mouth for his dentures, held by his mother. His upper teeth, like Joe's, were
so bad they had to be extracted.
WORLD WIDE PHOTOS
In the case of an acute infection, it is far safer and
better surgical judgment to get it quieted down and
under control with one of the antibiotics, chemotherapy, or both, before operating. As every dentist
knows, operating in a highly infected area is like
trying to put out a fire with gasoline. If an acute
condition can be modified into a chronic stage, half
the battle is won.
Importance of Postoperative Care
Postoperative care, in my opinion, is fully as important as anything that has gone before. Naturally,
every dentist has his own postoperative procedure.
- In addition to taking all possible precautions immediately after die extraction, I insist that every
patient come back for two checkups, the first within
forty-eight hours after the extraction, and the second within forty-eight hours after the first checkup.
In the case of an impacted tooth, I want to see the
patient regularly until the case is completely cured.
On the day of the extraction the patient is given,
not only oral instructions, but complete written
instructions as well regarding proper h0me care.
Of course, a dentist meets all kinds of patients.
Some will not follow instructions or do not seem
to know how to do so. Rather disastrous results can
take place when a patient chooses to premedicate
himself and then does not bother to mention the
fact to the operating surgeon.
Likewise, there is the patient who does not have
sense enough to remove the cellophane from antibiotic troches, and comes to the office with his
mouth all cut up from the cellophane and complains that the troches would not dissolve!
Then there is the patient who frantically calls
the dentist at three o'clock in the morning. He has
been lying awake convinced that something is wrong
because he has felt no postoperative pain.
However, for every such patient there are hundreds of intelligent ones who carefully follow instructions and thereby aid the dentist in his earnest
desire to safeguard the welfare of the patient - and
at the same time look after his own welfare by keeping out of trouble.
Politeness and lack of familiaritv between dentists
and their assistants are important, 'we feel. We want
to be respected as 'people, as women, and as coworkers. When we are summoned, we don't like
to be shouted at. Some dentists make use of a little
bell. They ring it to inform the assistant, who has
left the room to work on bills or correspondence,
that she is needed. She can enter unobtrusively then
and carry out her job. Formality in addressing the
assistant sounds more respectful. For instance, being
called by our first name sometimes sounds too
"chummy" for a dental office. Not being addressed
by any name - such as, "Take the instruments
away"; or, "Uh, let's have some more water" - is
belittling. We feel pretty important around the
office. \Vhy try to reduce us to nonentities?
Our relationship between appointments is no
different than any other job where a woman works
in close proximity to a man. We like friendliness,
but not necessarily comradeship. We are, after all,
employees, and there will be less antagonism between the dentist and us if our relationship is fairly
impersonal. Then if we fall down on a job and are
told about it, we don't imagine we're being abused we realize we're being- shown right from wrong. A
too-familiar relationship makes it difficult for the
dentist to criticize and the assistant to accept his
suggestions. On the other hand, we enjoy working
with a pleasant person who takes an interest in us
as human beings - not robots destined to carry out
the mechanical duties assigned to us with not a word
exchanged except what is necessary for our work.
Reg ular Working Hours
We like regularity in our working hours too. We
don't feel that just because we are dental assistants
we have to I1ut in an excessive amount of time at
work. Of course, the very nature of our jobs conditions us for emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances that delay our leaving the office on
schedule. But there is little excuse for the dentist
who spends so much time talking to his patients and
socializing with them that his appointments run into
one another and his three o'clock patient eventually
gains admittance to his office at four-thirty. This
tie
works a hardship, not only on the patient, but on
the assistant, who is exp~cted to remain until the
last patient leaves.
A D. A.'s View of Her Job
Our job has many compensations. We feel that
we can act as liaison between the dentist and his
patients. To the public, we represent the man we
work for, and we recognize the importance of how
we conduct ourselves with the patients in the office
and with the public outside the office. We realize the
value of the trust and confidence placed in us in
regard to ,the dental work done on patients, the fees
they pay, and the personal matters they sometimes
entrust to us while waiting for their "next." We
know that a small amount of drudgery has to be
done to keep the office presentable, and that we must
have basic knowledge of letter writing, bookkeeping, and typewriting. We feel that we are not asking
for much when we set forth a few simple suggestions for dentists. \Ve feel we are 'not servants
but are persons who serve. There is a difference,
and we should like this difference recognized. Rather
than being in the untenable position of never being
able to meet the standards expected of us, we prefer
being told we're unsuited.
We want the dentist we work for to make it
easy for us to help him have the kind of practice he
strives for.
THE PATIENT KEEPS THE SOCKET
A thought has just occurred to me
About a common place procedure,
Where dentists may in error be
After using forceps, pick or lever.
Instead of endless close inspection
Of the tooth after it's outThe place to look at for infection
Is right inside the mouth.
At the tooth a glance may ascertain
A broken root or abcess Yet, the oft-missed place to view again
Is the hole and border process.
For though the patient may give up the tooth
Or he may put it in his pocketThe really undeniable truth
Is that he must always take the socket.
L..-_
_ _ _ _ __
_ __
_
M. J. T.
Page Fifteen
Page Two
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September 1952
September 1952
WE, THE DENTAL ASSISTANTS
A Short-Cut Methocl-
Permanent Rebasing at the Chair
by Dorothy She nsa Mille r
We assistants are impressed with the role we play
in the office of our employer. A poor dentist with
a good assistant may never build up a worth-while
practice, but conversely, a good dentist may lose
many patients by the type of dental assistant he
displays in his front office and by his side. If I were
a dentist and wanted my assistant to be alert, clean,
intelligent, friendly, cooperative, and able to keep
a dental office running on well-oiled w heels of competenc<e, I would check my demands against human
ability to fill them and would try to make my assistant comfortable working for me.
Th at Word of Appreciation
As assistants, 'we feel that we are not asking the
impossible when we look for appreciation of a job
well done. We know all about being expected to
have a thorough knowledge of our duties, but when
we get the bills out on time, in spite of the pressure
of other duties; when we send reminders out
promptly; when our filing system of cards is up-todate; when we see that the dental suite is kept in
order - , we like to hear a word of praise. Yes, it's
our job - but most of us make a concentrated effort
to see that it's done to the best of our ability and a
"well done" or "thank you" comment by our employer will spur us on to greater effort.
Those Errors
Many dentists do not allow their assistants to help
them prepare inlays, mix amalgams, or even develop
X-rays. But for those of us who are given that kind
of responsibility, we expect a reasonable amount of
tolerance of our mistakes. Naturally, there are all
sorts of mistakes, and some of the~1 can be very
costly. An error through carelessness is sometim~s
unforgivable, but the kind of mistakes which can
happen to anyone - even the dentist - are the ones
we resent being called down for. From the dentist's
point of view, several things should be taken into
consideration : the experience of the assistant, the
length of time she has been employed by the dentist,
and the seriousness of her wrong-doing.
Take D. A. into Your Confi dence, Doctor
We like to be in the confidence of the dentist
for whom we work. For instance, when we handle
appointments and personal calls we believe that, in
all fairness, a dentist should tell us to whom he
wishes to speak and to whom we say, "Sorry but
he's too busy to answer." Not all patients are
handled alike, and the dentist, more than the assistant, knows which ones demand personal contact
with him. We hate to be in the middle and be used
for a scapegoat: "Oh, Miss Smith made a mistake she didn't realize who you were"; or, '''\'iiss Smith
was wrong not to tell you I could talk with you."
Perhaps there are a fe;v assistants who don't 'mind
taking the blame and consider it as part of their jobs,
but, for the most part, we feel that unpleasant situations of this sort can be avoided with a little forethought.
Don't Reprimand in Patient's Presence
'-
\
"OF COURSE I REM EMBER. TH ESE TEETH ARE
ANTERIOR, AND THOSE ARE-ARE-BACTERIA."
Page Fourteen
A bawling out in .front of a patient is about the
most humiliating thing which can happen to us. But
as embarrassing as this may be to us, the assistants,
most patients feel very uncomfortable being a witness to this kind of scene. If the assistant is in the
wrong about anything she does at the chair, and the
dentist points out her mistake by scolding her, the
patient begins to wonder about the sort of dental
work his, the patient's, mouth contains. If the assistant makes an error in a bill and the dentist lays
all the blame on her shoulders, without trying to
minimize the mistake, a patient may w ell feel that
he would rather conduct the business part of his
visit with the dentist than the assistant. Often, a
dentist won't verbally accuse his assistant of doing
wrong, but his actions - slamming drawers, throw-
tic
by William Poindexte r,. D. D. S.
N e w Products Editor
r
i
Would you like to save time, doctor, in permanently rebasing a full or partial denture for your
patient - do most of the work at the chair in twenty
minutes? With the advent of the self-curing acrylics, this can now be safely done without irritation
even to the most sensitive of mouth tissues, and
without weakening the denture in any manner.
One such self-curing acrylic, called DuraBase,*
has been doing a good job of permanent rebasing in
this manner for thany dentists. Because I have gotten
excellent results with it in my practice, I do not
hesitate to recommend it to you. DuraBase, once
placed inside the denture, chemically attaches itself
to that denture and becomes a permanent, blended
part of it - its finish very hard and durable. Think
what this means, doctor, in terms of accuracy. By
eliminating the laboratory procedures for doing
rebases, you are eliminating errors which we know
occur through the shrinkage of impression materials,
model or investment expansion, changes due t o
curing by boiling, and so forth - all of which may
spoil the fit of the denture or even raise or lower
the bite of the case. In terms of convenience and
patient-comfort, this short-cut rebase method is
also important. Quick service for your patient, and
a comfortable, stable, accurately fitting denture as
well. Now, let us see how this quick, accurate technique works in rebasing an upper acrylic denture.
DuraBase may be used on vulcanite provided the
plate is first scraped, but the rebase is not permanent because of the lack of chemical adherence bet\veen acrylic and rubber.
How to Do It
First, with acrylic burs, cut down the peripheral
borders of the denture about two millimeters to allow for a new bulk of material in these areas. Sand
around these borders with coarse sandpaper to promote adherence between the denture and the DuraBase when it is added. Make certain that the denture
is clean and dry. I use tincture of green soap to
wash the denture, then dry it with a steady stream
of warm air. Next, fill th~ narrow glass vi~l which
comes in the Dura Base kit with liquid and .pour it
into a mixing jar. Fill the glass cup, which also
comes with the kit, with DuraBase powder and add
* A product of the Reliance Dental Manufacturing Co.,
Chicago, Ill.
it all at once to the liquid. Begin stirring the mixture
instantly with a cement spatula, and, once started,
do not add any more powder. Stir for about a half
minute. Let it stand for a minute, and the mix should
be in a fluid state ready to insert in the denture. If a
thicker mix is wanted let the mix stand an additional
minute. (Let me mention here that the only nvo
variables in working with DuraBase are thickness
of the mix and condition of the weather. A thicker
mix and warm weather cut down the working and
setting times a great deal. In other \vords, you can
adjust the mix to suit your preferences and the
weather condition br varying the amount of liquid
used to a given quantity of powder.)
\Vhile the mix is setting to the desired texture,
place a strip of adhesive tape over the labial and
buccal denture areas about one-eight h inch from the
peripheral border and extending to the gingival areas
of the teeth. T his prevents any overflow of DuraBase from adhering to the denture \vhen seated in
the mouth; that is, from adhering to the areas between perip heral border and gingivae of the teeth.
This facilitates trimming and polishing in that only
the peripheral border will have to be touched up.
Before placing the mix in the denture, take the precaution of placing a thin coat of mineral oil over the
mucosa, for, upon the first insertion of D uraBase in
the mouth, the more sensitive tissues sometimes experience a smarting sensation, which the mineral
oil will prevent. I tried using dampened cellophane
for this purpose but fou nd that, after removing the
cellophane from the impression, there were always
a few 'wrinkles left on the surface of the rebase.
N ow place t he mix in the denture and carry it t o
the patient's mouth in the same manner that you
take any impression for a full upper denture. H ave
him close gently into centric relation for only a few
seconds to be sure his bite is not being opened. Remove the denture and trim off' excess material. Rinse
the denture fo r about a half minute under cold
water. Meanwhile, have the patient rinse his mouth.
DOCTOR W ILLI AM POINDEXTER
As this issue of TIC went to press, news of the
death of Doctor \Villiam Poindexter was received.
\Ve know that all of our readers will share with us,
and with all who knew him, a sense of personal loss
at the untimely passing of this brilliant young man
who was a skilled dentist, a talented writer, and a
good friend .
Page Three
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September 1952
September 1952
Next, reinsert the denture in the patient's mouth,
once again having him close into normal position,
meanwhile moving his lips and cheeks to obtain a
muscle-trimmed periphery. This step usually takes
about a half minute. By this time the chemical process of curing should have started, and liberation of
heat will begin. At this point, remove the denture
from the mouth, rinse with cold water, and set aside
for fifteen minutes. This is all the time requiroo for
DuraBase to reach the stage of completed curing
and to become absolutely hard. Finally, trim off
any excess material, polish, and the rebase will be
finished.
DuraBase may also be used to correct new dentures, repair teeth, fractures, adding postdams, and
so forth. The powder comes in translucent pink or
clear for rebasing all types of dentures.
Thus we find that acrylic DuraBase, through its
self-curing property, eliminates the many laboratory
procedures involved in doing rebases the old way,
enabling us to do the job quickly and accuratelyresulting in greater satisfaction, not only to us, but
to our patient as well.
STANDARDIZING NEW TECHNIQUES
Picture at left shows expgrimental dentures that are being observed to determine the properties of new and improved materials
developed io. the Laboratory. Resins used in the construction of
artificial dentures absorb or lose water, depending on the conditions under which they are prepared or stored. The res ulting
change in dimension is determined by measuring the distance
between reference marks placed on the denture.
it is not uncommon to estimate net rental income
without deducting depreciation charges, and other
annual charges such as property taxes.
Changing personal circumstances may have a material bearing on the final income tax bill. Acquisition of additional dependents, through birth, adoption or otherwise, will reduce the tax assessment,
other factors remaining the same. For example, a
baby conceived and born subsequent to filing the
original tax estimate will reduce a dentist's income
tax by about $135 even if none of his taxable income
is above the lowest tax bracket.
Or, a dentist may base his original estimate upon
taking the standard deduction for personal deductions: taxes, interest, contributions, medical, and so
forth. Subsequently, these outlays may materially
exceed the amount of the standard deduction. In
that event it will be to his advantage to itemize such
deductions. He should take this circumstance into
consideration in making an amended estimate. For
example, a dentist may base his original estimate on
$7,500 net income. He has estimated his tax by taking the standard deduction, or $750 deduction. Subsequently during the year up to the time of making
his amended declaration he has actually expended
for deductible items $1,500. He expects these will
run to a total of $1,800 by year-end. This means an
additional reduction in h{s taxable income of $1;050,
even though his original estimate of net income
remains virtually unchanged. The reduction in his
estimated tax over the original estimate will exceed
$230 in the lowest tax bracket.
A capital gain or loss will materially alter an income tax estimate. So too will casualty losses not
offset by insurance. A large casualty loss may wipe
out all tax obligations for the year.
Above: Measuring the temperature rise during the hardening of
a dental restoration. Thermocouples placed in the filling react
to very small temperature changes, producing observable voltage
changes on the Potentiometer.
In doing so, a taxpayer has the reassuring knowledge Lhat he is neither strapping himself to "lend"
the government money without interest nor piling
up a huge tax deficit which will haunt him at tax
filing time.
Text and photos by Authenticated News
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Experimental restorations
and new techniques in dentistry are constantly being observed and studied at the Dental Research
Laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards.
The development of satisfactory techniques, based
upon a knowledge of the fundamental physical and
clinical properties, is essential to good dentistry and
is the aim of the Laboratory.
While it continues to be exceedingly difficult to
predict "either the year's net income or the individual income tax early in the year, there is no excuse
for continuing either to overpay or underpay on an
original tax estimate throughout the year. Three
amendments are permissible, i.e., June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. These
amendments should be made and be filed coincident
with the payment of the quarterly tax.
...------LOSERS KEEPERS----.
Above: The Dental Interferometer determines the presence or
absence of tendencies toward shrinkage in amalgam within 24
hours after mixing of the amalgam.
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Considering how much groceries cost.
L------------Virginia Ree Mock
Page Four
tit:
A LAB MAN SAYS:
Case after case comes into the laboratorv concerned with the anterior part of the mouth -where
we are to replace a jacket crown, a bridge or even
a tooth on the partial - especially a cuspid tooth.
Yet quite often the dentist will not show the other
cuspid in his impression. As you know, if we have
this we can get better esthetics.
In regard to small restorations, such as jackets
and bridges, some dentists take an opposing impression in compound. They could save chair time and
give the laboratory a better bite if they would not
use the compound but, instead, get the wax bite
with "Rite Bite Trays," made by B. G. Hatch Co.
When you obtain new trays, doctor, if you or
your assistant will scratch your name in legibly, it
will tend to. eliminate chances of losing your trays.
Laboratory men usually see to it that trays have a
name on them when they arrive at the I;boratorv
but sometimes this is ove~looked.
.,
H. W. Mueller
HOBB Y WID O W S
(Continued from Page Five)
or lack of it, and I report on the soil, the snails, and
the new buds on the chrysanthemums. Both of us
are tanned from the sun, relaxed, and at peace with
the world.
Often, dentists who are intensely interested in
dental society activities find that their wives take
an equal interest in dental auxiliary work. The two
dovetail beautifully. Dentists lucky enough to own
boats often have wives who are willing deck hands
aboard, and golf enthusiasts often have wives who
enjoy golf as much as they do. Occasionally two
musicians marry and enjoy music as a joint avocation for the rest of their lives.
A Hobby Should Unite, Not Divide
Hobbies are wonderful for everyone as long as
they unite a family and do not divide it. The pride
a dental wife feels in her husband's skill, in his office
and out of it, is one of the important ingredients of
their life together. And it is .a pleasing reward for
good behavior if her favorite dentist is now and
then faintly proud of some of her activities, as long
as they do not divert her from the main job of being
Mrs. Dentist.
Page Thirteen
tic
September 1952
estima~es his tax by more than 20 percent, a penalty
may be imposed. T he only exception to imposition
of such a penalty is if the taxpayer's original estimate was comp~ted by applying the rates and exemptions for the taxable year to an amount not less
than the previous year's income. That is, the current estimate may be based on an income not less
than that enjoyed the previous year, but with the
estimated tax based on current tax year rates and
exemptions.
An important fact to keep in mind about a declaration of estimated income tax is that it is a device to put non-wage earners, as well as wageearners and salaried taxpayers in higher income
brackets, on a pay-as-you-go basis. Failure to adjust
the income tax estimate through an amended
declaration when circumstances alter the original
facts on which the initial declaration is based, defeats this pay-as-you-go intent.
September 1952
Every year tens of thousands of taxpayers get
into difficulties because of persistently underestimating their income taxes. Some see in this a clever
way of hanging on to the use of funds which, otherwise, would be paid in on tax estimates. Even
thopgh a taxpayer may rationalize such a course
of action, it w ill not save him from his folly if he
is short of funds come March 15 and the final day
of reckoning.
DENTAL WIVES:
()
As lack of funds is usually the motivating cause
for such a course of action, it is little wonder that
many taxpayers find themselves equally shy of
funds when the final tax bill becomes due and payable. It is an exceedingly risky way in which to get,
or retain, funds for other purposes. Before such a
taxpayer gets off the hook he may pay a usurious
rate of interest in sacrifices that become imperative
to save his property from being liened by the government. And not to mention penalties assessed by
the government for delinquency.
The government's primary concern, of course,
is that it collects income taxes fully on a pay-as-you
Moreover, if a dentist does not pay substantially
go basis. However, the taxpayer, himself, has a
all of his income tax as he goes, he is likely to fall on
selfish interest in so doevil days because of a
ing, too. At the same ,--- - -- - SMALL FRY - - -- - - - , sharp drop in profestime he also has an incensional receipts to\vard
tive not to overpay.
the end of the year, or
When you're working with children,
at the beginning of the
Pay As You Go
Let it be understood:
new year. This is right
For a dentist's own
at a time when he must
You're a pal of Roy Rogers
protection and peace of
count on available cash
mind he should pay the
to discharge his tax obliOr - you've met Red Riding Hood.
bulk of his anticipated
gations. The drop in
income tax as he goes.
professional receipts may
come too late to alter
Granted that income tax .L..-------- - - --Ethel Willis H ~witt
rates have now reached a
materially the tax indebtedness but not the inability to meet the tax.
truly burdensome level, the weight becomes no
lighter by allowing the taxes to accumulate. In fact,
if a dentist is unable to meet his quarterly tax payHow to Amend Your Estimate
ments as they fall due, and in amounts sufficient to
In making an amended declaration of estimated
substantially discharge his income tax obligations, it
income tax a dentist should calculate his net earnings
is an almost unmistakable sign that he is in bad
as carefully as in making the original estimate. Othshape financially. His situation may become proerwise, he is likely to make some serious errors which
gressively worse. It is fair to ask: If a dentist canwill continue to overstate or understate his tax. If it
not make these quarterly payments as they fall due,
is
available, he should consult the original work
then how does he propose to meet them later?
sheets used to calculate the original estimate.
Nevertheless, a good many dentists skim by year
after year underestimating their taxes. And, in a
Every factor which will enter into determining
sixty-day period are obliged to dig up upwards of
net earnings should be included in calculating the
50 or 60 percent of an entire year's income tax.
income tax estimate. If the previous year's earnings
That is, on January 15 they must make the final
has been used on which to base the current year's
quarterly payment. Then, on March 15 they must
earnings and original tax estimate, especial care
make up the difference between the year's final inshould be taken in making an amended estimate. In
come tax assessment and the sum total of quarterly
making amended estimates based on the year's acttax payments which sharply underestimated the
ual experience to date, taxpayers often overlook
year's tax. In addition, at this time they must find
some of their principal costs of producing income.
funds with which to make the first quarterly payThus, their amended estimate may overstate net
ment on the new year's tax estimate.
earnings. For example, in the case of rental income
-, '
~
~.
em
HOBBY
•
~~,
WIDOWS
by Kay Lipke
It was a pleasant little autumn dinner party. The
guests ',,"ere dentists and their wives, most of them
old friends, and tl-.e conversation was filled w ith
post-vacation talk.
After dinner two of the men, who were ardent
photographers, entertained the group with beautiful, colored motion pictures of their month's camping trip in the Sierras. When the lights were turned
on once again, the air sizzled with talk of light
meters, correct exposures, focusing, and all the intricate problems of photography.
During a brief lull in the discussion, the wife of
one of the photographers turned to the wife of the
other, and said softly, "I wonder where the boys
will take our vacation next year."
T here was an instant's silence, and then a burst
of laughter from everyone, including the sheepish
husbands. For the first time the group became aware
that, while the two eager film enthusiasts were
photographing nature's grandeur on a carefree vacation, their hobby widows were home alone. Their
husbands had taken their vacation for them.
Dentists and hobbies almost always go together.
Fingers skilled in the practice of a profession as
exacting as dentistry seem to itch for other skilled
outlets after office hours. There are few rocking
chair athletes in the dental profession.
.
Most of the dental hobbies are exceedingly interesting and worth-while. Some of them include participation of dental wives, and SOme do not. Some
are of direct benefit to the Little Woman and fill
her home with unusual and lovely articles, and
others exclude her entirely.
Don't Separate Him from His Hobby
Whether her dentist's hobby adds to the fullness
of her life, or detracts from it, a dental wife knows
one thing from the start: If she wants a contented
husband, she will not try to separate him from his
hobby.
If his hobby is something she can enjoy enthusiastically with him, well and good. Otherwise, it is
a good idea to find something of equal interest for
herself, so that never - well, hardly ever - will she
feel left out.
There is another reason why we wives of hobby
enthusiasts should find outlets of our own. It is just
the least little bit hard on a woman's ego to have a
husband who is highly skilled in his profession and
tic
~
~
-h
-
)yo
II
~ I
4fr
just as highly sk illed in all his outside activities as
well.
A Usefu l, All-Round Genius
In our family, it took me years to lick this problem. My dental husband can do practically anything. Our home is filled with lamps that he has
made of brass and kindred metals. He can take odd
bits of w ood and concoct a table which brings raves
as an antique of old mahogany, although there is
not a sliver of mahogany in it.
He went through a phase of silverplating which
resulted in enough lovely silver to keep me polishing for the rest of my life . He made a silver jewel
case for me and then created enough unusual silver
jewelry to fill it. Certainly no wife could object
to hobbies like these.
If plumbing develops a bottleneck, presto, he becomes a plumber. If a lamp blows a fuse, then he is
an electrician. If he feels in the mood, he can take
over the kitchen and become a chef. Weird ingredients go into a kettle and produce yum-yum results
which leave me envious.
W hat Mrs. Dentist Ca n Do
After years of a gnawing inferiority complex, I
discovered gardening. This was a hobby about
which my husband cared absolutely nothing. For
me, it was ego's answer. I could dig and fertil ize
and plant to my heart's content, and it was quite all
right with him. He has never made a suggestion,
nor taken the shovel from my hand to show me
how to do the job better.
H e is delighted with the flowers in the garden,
and only too glad to have them in his office each
week. The process by which seeds emerge into
plants and burst into bloom interests him only
slightly. That is my job.
At the moment, my favorite dentist has forsaken
all previous hobbies for lawn bowling. On every
available day away from the office, weather permitting, he is off. to the bowling green, jauntily attired
in lurid sports clothes, attempting to master lawn
bowling. For him, it is the perfect escape from the
problems of his office.
Personally, it bothers me not at all to be a hobby
w idow. W hile he is away at the bowling green, I
am having a wonderful time in my garden. When
we meet at the close of day he tells of his prowess,
(Continued on Page Thirteen)
Page Twelve
Page Five
tic
September 1952
September 1952
ing painless dental procedures. His ihstruments, we
are told, become the positive pole of an electrical
circuit while the patient becomes the negative pole.
Although this may seem like a "revolting" idea to
some, we'd like to know whether he's ever consid·ered screwing a 60-watt bulb into the patient's ear
for additional light.
Should You
Amend Your Tax Declaration,
Doctor?
TIC Tips
by Maurice J. Teitelbaum, D. D. S.
News and Views
At the Brook Army Medical Hospital Cent.ral
Dental Laboratory in San Antonio, Texas, 1,000
metal cast partials have been produced monthly this
year. Colonel H. N. Burgin of the 4th Army Central Dental La,boratory reports that partials comprise
approximately 80 percent of the dental restorations
completed at the large laboratory. Of the remainder
of the work, 12 percent are full dentures and 8
percent are devoted to fixed bridgework and
jackets. About 2.5 percent of the work done there
is remade, rebased or repaired. . . . After five
years of study on the fluoridation process in selected
sections of the country from New York to Michigan, it is the opinion of Doctor F. A. Bell of the
Wisconsin State Board of Health that "the fluoridation of public water supplies for the control of <;lental decay is destined to go down in history as one
of the great public health measures of all time." . . .
From the City of New York comes another note of
progress in public health measures. The number of
reported cases of syphilis has decreased from 13,401
in 1946 to 5,385 in 1951 - a tribute to public education and modern preventive treatment. . . . Note
of Encouragement: If you thought you had a difficult time falling asleep last night, you're not alone.
Over three billion pills were taken by Americans
last year to put them to sleep. And if you think you
had a restful night's sleep - you probably moved
from 20 to 60 times, which is just about normal.
Incidentals
The "cancer-cure" rage" of last year, "krebiozen"
- derived from horse serum and injected muscularly
- has been discarded and left at the post. . . . An
Associated Press picture appearing in some few hundred newspapers recently showed a smiling, practically toothless, woman with the caption "Out
Comes Another Tooth." The woman was apparently
proud of the fact that, \'lith the use of an ordinary
razor blade and an old pair of forceps, she had pulled
(?) out 13 of her own teeth and had some 11 left
to go. In a New Jersey paper, whether by chance
or design, directly underneath the picture and in
large bold type was "Death Notices." . . . Attention has been called recently to flews about a Japanese dentist who uses a small charge of electrical
current, instead of drugs, to deaden teeth in attempt-
Sodium citrate is effective in dissolving plaster
and stone. . . . Penpoints make a good matrix for
cervical plastic fillings or for cervical inlay impressions as a tray. . . . An effective topical anesthetic
is benzocaine 10-15 percent in propylene glycol.
. . . To remove the small stubborn particles that
cling to the glass mortar, rub an ordinary coarse
sandpaper disc around with your finger. . . . Minute particles of cement that seem to be imbedded
in the glass slab can be removed by swabbing the
slab with a piece of cotton dipped in hydrochloric
acid. . . . Keep your hypodermic needle covered
with a sterile cotton roll until the very moment you
are ready to insert it. If patients don't see the <needle,
they tend to be more relaxed and cooperative. (See
Do~tor Arthur Levine's article, "Before You Insert
That Needle, Doctor," in this issue of TIC.)
Gagging
With political hats being tossed into the arena, we
are reminded of the story of the dentist, the architect, and the politician who were arguing as to whose
profession was the oldest. The dentist, as a representative of the medical profession, said that his profession was the oldest since Eve was made from Adam's
rib and that surely was the first operation.
"Maybe," said the architect, "however, prior to
that, order was created out of chaos, and that was an
architectural job."
"But," interrupted the politician, "somebody had
to create the chaos first!"
tic
If You Overpay
by Harold J. Ashe
The year 1952 is one of uncertainty for professional men, including dentists. It is a year of sharply
fluctuating receipts and of unpredictable net earnings. Investment income is problematical. At the
same time 1952 is the year in \\lhich taxpayers will
feel the full impact of the new and higher tax rates
for the first time. R.fter exemptions and deductions,
dentists, along with other taxpayers, will be obliged
to set aside almost one dollar out of four for individual income taxes, even though taxable income
does not rise above the lowest income tax bracket.
Yet despite these circumstances it is doubtful if
very many dentists will exercise their right to amend
their declaration of estimated income tax if this appears to be to their advantage. And, there seems
to be considerable ignorance of the fact· that, under
certain circumstances, a taxpayer must amend his
original tax estimate if the initial estimate sharply
understates his year's income tax.
If they greatly overpay on their installments,
they are temporarily "lending" the government
funds whiclI they can usually ill afford to part with.
The overpayments are being "lent" for periods
ranging from five to fifteen months. That is, quarterly overpayment in March 1952 may not be returned until June 1953 or thereabouts, while the
overpayment reflected in the January 1953 quarterly payment will be \\lith the government for five
months. The loss of the use of this money, even for
a time, can prove embarrassing to a dentist hard
pressed for funds with which to meet his obligations.
If You Underpay
On the other hand, if a dentist sharply underestimates his income tax, and fails to amend the estimate to coincide with changing circumstances, he
can be penalized for such oversight. If he under-
There are two compelling reasons why a dentist
should recalculate his estimated net income at least
once a year if not oftener. If this estimate varies
substantially from his original estimate of net income, he should amend his income tax estimate. If
he does not do so, there is a good likelihood that he
will either:
(a) greatly overpay on his eventual income tax
through quarterly payments; or
(b) sharply underpay the final income tax bill.
While taxpayers continue to grumble at the impossibility of closely estimating the year's tax on the
basis of only ten weeks' experience in the year, once
the original estiIl,1ate is made they usually cling to
this estimate right up to the date for filing the income tax return. In doing this they may be penalized in either one of two ways.
"EVERY THIRD TOOTH I PULL, I PULL FOR
UNCLE SAM."
Page Eleven
Page Six
t i cSeptember 1952
"The tomorrow of our American way of life is
being fashioned by the direction and guidance given
to the youth of today.
"Nearly every community has its juvenile delinquency problem and many welfare agencies are
dealing with that problem and with problems posed
by social inequalities and crime. We can well imagine how much more serious those problems might
be today without the preventive and treatment efforts of the various youth organizations.
"Among the most effective programs are those
which, like Pony League and Little League, do not
attempt to reform, but to guide - to avoid the need
for reformation.
"Young boys like companionship, fellowshipto belong to organizations and to have a place to
meet for mutual pleasure. This natural tendency,
when undirected, manifests itself in gang-joining
and eventually in juvenile delinquency. Under
proper guidance, this tendency is expressed through
constructive channels which prepare a boy for a
normal, wholesome life."
This goal can be realized for most boys through
a simple, common-sense approach, Doctor Cohen
contends. "The average American boy loves sports,
all types of sports, and there is no better medium
through which to reach a boy than a sound sports
program," he explains. "Through such organized
activities as Little League and the Pony League,
boys are given opportunities for fun, for characterbuilding, and for learning the give-and-take of life
under the supervision and guidance of respectable
and responsible citizens who are 'interested in the
welfare of boys."
The slogan "Protect Our Nation's Youth" has
, been adopted by Pony League Baseball, the first
letter of each word making up the name "Pony." It
Son Victor gets some expert advice.
Page Ten
September 1952
tic
BEFORE YOU INSERT THAT NEEDLE, DOCTOR
by Arthur H. Levine, D. D. S.
1\laking a good injection depends on handling
each detail with care and precision. When dentists
differ In the success of their injection technique (and
the differences are tremendous - just talk to some
patients), it is not because of any secret skill or natural aptitude. After all, who is better qualified, from
the point of view of manual and digital dexterity,
than a dentist? But when a patient walks out of an
office thinking he never had a worse injection, the
dentist has failed because of lack of attention to all
details. Somewhere along the line he tried a short cut
or was just lazy.
Use a Sharp Needle
The first detail to watch for is a sharp needle.
Discarding needles frequently is a good habit. One
man who is fuss v to the extreme about a sharp
needle uses a ne'; one for each patient. He admits
it sounds silly to his colleagues but he has built up a
reputation f~r being a champ with a needle and he
is proud of it. He says he makes a charge for using
novocaine and so includes the cost of the needle in
the fee. Other men, however, dislike to make a
charge for novocaine. But, \vhatever the method
used, it is up to each dentist to decide when to discard a needle. Most men questioned felt that six to
twelve injections should constitute the life of a
needle. Generally speaking, sharpening needles or
using the type that has to be flamed has not proved
popular with the majority of dentists.
Watching a close one.
is not the intention of the Pony League to develop
boys into m~jor league players, Doctor Cohen explains, but to provide them with a varietv of worthwhile opportunities during the smpmer Jmonths under strict supervision. Other objectives are: "To
teach a boy sportsmanship and fair play and to compete against other boys under the rules and regulations of baseball. To teach him discipline, selfrespect, and regard for others. To teach him teamplay and to develop his own initiative as well. To
instill in him the spirit to win, but, above all, teach
him how to accept defeat. It is great to be a winner,
but it is far greater to be a good and gracious loser."
Doctor Cohen is proud of the activities of Pony
League and Little League and is happy in his efforts.
"If we accomplish our goal for a number of these
boys- make them better citizens than they otherwise might be, and thus make our America' a better
nation and our tomorrow a happier one - then our
efforts will have been rewarding for all of us."
Of course, all members of the Cohen family _
Mrs. Cohen; Evelyn, twelve; Yictor, eighteen; ' and
Gary Louis, nine months - are devoted baseball
fans' or potential fans. Victor, a predental student
at the University of Pittsburgh, is, like his father,
an umpire. He has officiated many Little League
and Pony League games, and, like his father, intends
to continue umpiring as a hobby.
Doctor Cohen sums it all up by saying that if he
were asked what benefits Little League and Pony
League are passing on to our youth, his answer
would be these four lines of verse he once read:
Leave our youth wealth in a golden store
If wealth we have, but leave them more.
A God-fearing heart and a well-trained handThese are by far better than gold or land.
Medicate the Site
l
,
t ...
."
The second detail that needs attention is medicating the site of the injection. The area should be
painted to prevent infection being carried into the
tissue bv the needle, and the mucous membrane
should be anesthesized to prevent pain. Both, can be
accomplished by the use of a topical application
made for the purpose. All surgeons stress two considerations at this point. One, it takes about thirty
seconds for the application to take fullest effect
(some men don't wait). Second, the tissue should be
held to prevent contamination with the saliva. There
is little point in painting the tissue and then permitting the patient to close his mouth before the
injection is completed.
Again, these are small details known to every dentist. But frequently they are passed up.
the upper anterior region, the lip is retracted or held
out with the thumb and forefinger so as to make
the tissue in the muco-buccal fold taut. As every
dentist knows, it is easier to pierce the mucous membrane when it is stretched. But the diverting comes
in as the operator, in the act of stretching the tissue,
moves the lip (or cheek) slowly from side to side
just as he slips in the needle.
If the tissue is held just tightly enough so that it
might begin to annoy the patient a little, and is
moved back and forth as though the operator is looking for a good spot, the needle will slip in without
the patient's knO\vledge. The movement in the tissue
diverts the patient just long enough. Some men
pinch the lip but it really is not necessary.
In the mandibular region the technique is similar.
After the tissue is painted and the finger (or thumb,
as some men use it) has selected the proper place
along the anterior border of the ramus, the finger
can be worked back and forth as though sliding on
and off the border.
'
The Needle Is Not a Dart
One final reminder: the needle is never used as a
dart. It is not the technique used by the physician
as he goes through skin or muscle. It is not the quick,
dart-like motion. In the mouth, the injection should
always be deliberate, with a slow build-up. It is
almo~t like "sneaking up" on the patient on tiptoe.
Even in the palatal area where the tissue is dense
and firm, success can be achieved by just barely placing the needle against the tissue, then very gra~ually
but steadily increasing the pressure. If the bmld-up
is really sl~w, the patient will experience no discomfort.
So before you insert that needle, doctor, be prepared' to pay ~ttention to every detail. The patient
will appreciate it.
Divert the Patient
The third and last detail is the diversionary tactic. The patient can be diverted at the moment the
needle is inserted. Obviously, since the syringe is
held in one hand, the diverting must be done with
the other. If the novocaine is being infiltrated; as in
"GOLLY, AM I GLAD TO HAVE VACATION
OVER WITH! ALL THAT SCREAMING AND
HOLLERING OF THE KIDS, MOWING THE
LAWN, COOKING PROGRAMS ON DAYTIME
TV . .."
Page Seven
ti €
September 1952
FOR LIVING
Dentist Harry M. Cohen -
BASEBALL AUTHORITY
Colling bolls ond strikes,.
by Joseph George Strack
Doctor Harry M. Cohen got the thrill of his life
last month when the first World Series for Pony
League Baseball was held in his home town, Washington, Pa., under official rules of the League which
he himself wrote. Doctor Cohen is not only the
author of the League's book of rules, but is one of
the originators and promotors of the League, an organized baseball association for American boys of
thirteen and fourteen years of age.
Doct or Cohen in his office.
A baseball expert, umpire, and trainer of umpires
for twenty years, Doctor Cohen is also the author
of the official rules for the national Little League,
which is for boys under the age of thirteen.
Ever since his elementary school days in Washington, Harry Cohen has been interest~d in sports.
At Washington H igh School he participated in all
athletics, and his interest in sports continued through
the years he spent at the University of Pittsburgh
Dental School. When he received his D.D.S. in
1927, he returned to Washington to practice dentistry - and to umpire baseball games.
He soon became Commissioner of the Washington County Umpire Association, building that group
from ten to sixty umpires and obtaining for it a
charter issued by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic
Athletic Association. He has held clinics on baseball
at Washington and Jefferson College, which clinics
the director of athletics said "were a great help to
our coach and team members - paid off in dividends
throughout the playing season in many ways." The
baseball coach at Waynesburg College said of the
Association's umpires : "The cooperation, respect,
and competence of each umpire was outstanding."
Another official wrote: "In the many years that I
have organized sand lot leagues, I hav"e ~ever found
a more efficient group of officials, thanks to your
efforts."
Umpires
Talking about umpires - "For years you have heard the expression 'Kill the
umpire!;" D~ctor Cohen says, "but for some reason
he lives on. He is indestructible. As long as baseball
is played, he \",ill always be a part of the game. The
man in blue is the unsung hero of baseball upon
whose shoulders rests the responsibility to see that
Page Eight
.
-\
JJ
the game is played according to rules and regulations."
In his rule book for Pony League Baseball, he
says:
. "During a game the umpires are the official representatives of the League on the field . They must be
alert, be able to follow the ball, and always be in a
proper position to make decisions which, for the
most part, require split-timing. Any athletic contest
is only as good as the officials that are used.
"Any individual \'/ho expects to be an official
cannot be handed a rule book and a uniform and be
expected to be able to officiate a game properly. No
organized league should permit anyone to officiate
without some training or guidance.
" More schools and clinics for umpires are definitely needed and with that thought in mind Pony
League Baseball has ~et up a concrete umpire clinical
program to be started at the inception of the leagues
themselves. T his clinic will consist of blackboard
drills, technique, position, knotty problems, and a
thorough explanation of every rule in the official
Pony League Rule Book."
tion. When a boy graduates from Pony League, he
is ready for a regulation diamond."
Doctor Cohen recently resigned his commissionership in the umpire association to devote all of his
spare time to the Pony and Little leagues. Pony
League wa£ envisioned initially as a tri-state organization to include Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West V irginia. But a short time after the announcement of
its organization, more than half of the States in the
nation expressed interest in the new league, and Doctor Cohen expects that approximately two hundred
units will be organized during the league's fi rst year.
Pony League will be played, not only in the United
States, but in Canada and the Panama Canal Zone.
Be nefits of Baseball
Baseball, or any other sport, conducted w ithin
the framework of a youth program teaches much
more than knowledge and skill in athletics, Doctor
Cohen emphasizes. He puts it this way:
The Need for Pony Lea g ue
Although many leagues are being organized
throughout the nation for the graduates of the Little
League (for boys under thirteen) , these leagues are
including thirteen-, fourteen-, and fifteen-year-old
boys and are playing on a regulation diamond.
"T his," Doctor Cohen says, "just about eliminates
the Little League graduate because he does not have
the physical capabilities for such a program. Since
the average Little League graduate is not ready for
this type of baseball, Pony League was organized to
fill the gap between Little League and Junior American Legion baseball and to insure the thirteen- and
fourteen-rear-old boys of two years of fair competi-
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